Lifeboat

In his essay entitled “Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping the Poor” Garrett Hardin explains through the metaphors of a lifeboat and a commons pasture to explain his theory that aiding poorer countries, as well as permitting immigration to richer countries, is bad for the global population in the long run (Hardin 584-585). Hardin effectively uses credible sources and logical statistical arguments and examples drawn from them, while excluding emotional and personal examples, to present his…

is the elimination of that sort of conscience from the lifeboat”. He defined guilty about one’s good luck as a type of conscience and the newcomer’s lack of guilt about the rich people’s loss as conscience drain; but the author deliberately omitted the morality of rich people’s indifference to the poor asking for help. Counting the negative effects on total conscience in the lifeboat if no rescue is attempted, the final solution to the lifeboat dilemma might be changed. Essentially, the…

that guide economic policy. If implemented thoughtfully, it will produce the best possible economic outcomes for all inhabitants of our planet. The purpose of this discourse is to contrast two different approaches. The first approach is Hardin’s lifeboat ethics. In Hardin’s view, developed nations that adopt free immigration policies and give economic assistance to poor nations will pay a heavy price. By contrast, Murdoch and Oaten critique this approach step by step, citing Hardin’s…

Introduction: In the article “Living on a Lifeboat,” Garrett Hardin believes that our obligations to the poor and hungry are metaphors based on the ethics of living on a lifeboat and the tragedy of the common. The ethics of living on lifeboat is based upon the rich and the poor. Rich people are in the lifeboat and poor people are in the sea. The wealthy has only three options in the situation with the poor people. First help all of the poor and everyone sinks. Next, help only who else can fit…

crushing their own wealth in their country’s values. Swift’s view is better than Hardin because Swift has had the title of being poor. The wealthy should help poor. My reasons are as following; overpopulation, famine aid, and no work. In my reading “LifeBoat Ethics” by Garrett Hardin and “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift, are both similar cases in dealing with the poor but Swift’s uses patos and Hardin agreement is based on logos. So Swift is the family guy, where as Swift is the one who…

many people and many have different views on how we should combat it. Garrett Hardin writes about what he thinks we should do about this problem as well as the dwindling resources, and the ever so controversial topic of immigration in his essay, “Lifeboat ethics” Hardin's thesis is that the wealthy countries should not help the poor ones. Well, I think that he makes some very strong points I have to disagree with his thesis. Scientific, medical and technological advances have changed the world…

In order to make a solid ethical decision, one must; “recognize an ethical issue, get the facts, evaluate alternative actions, make a decision, test it, and act and reflect on the outcome” (Velasquez et al. 278). There are several outcomes that could occur based upon what approach is taken, some people believe in choosing the route that will benefit them the most, while some people believe in carrying out what is best for the people around them. “The Runaway Trolley Car,” depicts the scenario…

Lifeboat A small cruise ship of the coast of south America has sunk leaving the remaining survivors in a small lifeboat. The lifeboat was manufactured to carry a capacity of ten people but there are a total of twenty people on board. The captain of the ship, whom is among the survivors on the lifeboat, notices that a storm is approaching fast and that it threatens to kill everyone on board if adjustments were not made. In order to maximize their chance of survival at least ten people have to be…

Definitively, could one ever truly define what it means to live a good life? Under what parameters does one define it and achieve it? Undoubtedly, one would expect to receive a barrage of opinions and anecdotes from people that claim they reached the highest prestige of life. Nevertheless, one could derive varying tidbits and underlying themes from many, if not most, of the advice and lifestyle tips. One may consider the generic definition of having a good life as having a life marked by a…

Pretty Place Going to Waste In Garrett Hardin’s “Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against Helping the Poor” he describes a sight that we all encounter sometimes daily. Hardin calls this the “tragedy of the commons”. The “tragedy of the commons”, is the idea that citizens are ruining aspects of the community that belong to everyone through their lack of care. This could be playgrounds, parks, historical sites, etc. Downtown Hot Springs fully embodies this concept. Downtown Hot Springs is home to murals…